Dispensers, particularly for liquids or pastes



v Line-29, 1965 R. KUSTER 3,191,820

DISPENSERS, PARTICULARLY FOR LIQUIDS OR PASTES Filed June 28, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 29, 1965 R. KUSTER 3,191,820

DISPENSERS, PARTICULARLY FOR LIQUIDS OR PASTES Filed June 28, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 29, 1965 I R. KUSTER 3,191,820

DISPENSERS, ARTICULARLY FOR LIQUIDS OR PAS'I'ES FiledJuna 28, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 29, 1965 R. KUSTER 3,191,820

DISPENSERS, PARTICULARLY FOR LIQUIDS 0R PAS'I'ES Filed June 28. 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ln/wfar P200; (uslelmil, J: 19 0 United States Patent 3,191,820 DISPENSERS, PARTICULARLY FOR LIQUIDS 0R PASTES Rene Kuster, 20 Rue de Heirnshrunn,

Reiningue, France Filed June 28, 1963, Ser. No. 291,475 Claims priority, application France, July 6, 1962, 7,456, Patent 1,328,647 17 Claims. (Cl. 22249t}) The present invention relates to dispensers, particularly for liquid or pasty materials.

It is conventional to place liquid or pasty materials in flexible containers made of any suitable plastic material, for example, which are tightly closed after being initially filled with the material. When it is desired to use the material in such a container, an end or a corner of the container can be removed, as by being cut away or torn off, and in this way there will be provided an opening through which the contents of the container can discharge. Of course, such containers are eminently suitable for those situations where it is desired to empty the entire contents of the container immediately upon opening thereof. However, they are not suitable for those situations where one wishes to use only a part of the contents of the container, since in such case it becomes necessary to close the container after part of the contents thereof have been removed. Of course, it is possible to provide such containers with an opening capable of receiving a threaded cap, a plug or the like, but when such a construction is provided the advantage of forming a container from a pair of simple flexible plastic sheets which are joined to each other at their edges is lost since in order to provide such a container with a structure capable of receiving a threaded cap, plug, or the like, it is necessary to make the container of a fairly rigid material at least at the portion thereof which is to receive a closure member such as a cap, plug, or the like. Therefore, at the present time there is no truly satisfactory solution to the problem of enabling containers of the above general type to be used under those conditions where only a part of the contents will be removed from the container.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a dispenser structure which will enable containers of the above type to be reliably closed after part of the contents have been removed therefrom.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser structure in which the elements which act to close the container are permanently connected therewith so that in this way there is no possibility of loss of a closure member, as is the case with a removable cap, plug, or the like. Still another object of the present invention is' to provide a closure structure of extreme simplicity which is low in cost and which can be quickly and inexpensively joined with a container.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a closure structure capable of being used with containers of many different types.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser structure where the entire dispenser as well as the structure for opening and closing the same can be held in one hand and closed and opened with the fingers of the same hand which holds the container.

The objects of the present invention also include the provision of a structure which will facilitate the initial filling of the container.

With these objects in view, the invention includes, in a dispenser, a pair of wall portions forming part of a container and having a closed position engaging each other to close the container, these wall portions also having an open position where they are displaced from each other ice and define between themselves an opening through which the contentsof the container may discharge from the interior thereof. A manually-operable means engages the wall portions of the container to press the latter against each other so as to maintain these wall portions in their closed position, and the manually-operable means has a pair of manually-engageable portions capable of being manipulated by the operator for placing the manuallyoperable means in a position where the wall portions assume their open position, the manually-operable means automatically moving tothe position where it presses the wall portions against each other to close the container when the operator releases the manually-engageable portions thereof.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is perspective illustration of one embodiment of a structure according to the present invention, FIG. 1 clearly showing the front end of the structure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of the structure of FIG. 1, illustrating the rear end thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing how the structure appears when looking toward the front end thereof;

FIG. 4 shows the structure of FIG. 3 when it has been displaced to its open position;

FIG. 5 shows part of a container of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a structure of the present invention joined with the container structure of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of a third embodi ment of a closure structure according to the present in vention;

FIG. 8 is aside elevation showing the structure of FIG. 7 assembled with a container;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the structure .Of FIG. 8'

showing the structure when it has been displaced by the operator to a position opening the container permitting the contents to discharge therefrom, as indicated at the left of FIG. 10;

FIG. 11 is a perspective illustration of a leaf spring which forms part of another embodiment of a structure according to the present invention,

FIG. 12 shows the embodiment of the invention which includes the leaf spring of FIG. 11, the structure being shown in aside elevation view'in FIG. 12;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation of still another embodiment of a closure structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a transverse sectional view of the structure of FIG. 13, the upper portion, of FIG. 14 being taken along the line MN of FIG. 13 while the lower left portion of FIG. 14 is taken along the line PQ extending from the line MN and the lower right portion of FIG. 14 is taken along the line NR which extends from the line MN;

FIG. 15 is a transverse sectional view of the structure of FIG. 13 taken along line ST, in the direction of the arrows; t v a FIG. 16 is a perspective illustration of a wire spring which forms part of the structure of FIGS. 13-15;

FIG. 17 illustrates the manner in which the embodiment of FIG. 7 is assembled with a container;

FIG. 18 shows the structure of FIG. 17 after the assembly has been completed;

FIG. 19 shows the structure of FIG. 18 after a corner of the container has been removed;

FIG. 20 illustrates the manner in which the container of FIG. 19 can be manipulated by one hand of the operator to open and close the container;

FIG. 21 shows a different type of container of the present invention with the closure structure assembled therewith;

FIG. 22 illustrates how the structure of FIG. 21 is manipulated for discharging material from the container;

FIG. 23 shows a different type of container which includes the structure of the present invention;

FIG. 24 shows yet another type of container which includes the structure of the present invention;

FIG. 25 illustrates the assembly of a closure of the invention with a container which is not completely closed;

FIG. 26 shows the structure of FIG. 25 after the assembly has been completed;

FIGL27 illustrates how the struture of FIG. 26 can be applied to a filling device; and

FIG. 28 shows the structure of FIG. 27 after the container has been joined to the device for filling the container.

FIG. 1 shows in perspective one possible embodiment of a structure of the invention which is adapted to be located at an endof a container for closing and opening the container, the slit 3 through which the contents of the container can discharge being clearly visible in FIG.

1 at the front end of the structure. FIG. 2 shows the samestructure as is illustrated in FIG. 1 but as is seen from the rear, so that there is clearly illustrated in FIG. 2 the rear opening 8 defined by the edge portion 9 which is to be united with the remainder of the flexible container or the like. The structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 is preferably manufactured from a thermoplastic material and includes a hollow, flexible, frustoconical member 1 which has at its front portion 2 a pair of opposed relatively flat flexible wall portions which engage each other to form the slit 3 when these wall portions are in a closed position closing the container. The front portion 2 is reinforced by flange-like extensions 4, and there is provided behind the flange-like reinforcing portions 4 a pair of leaf springs and 5' which are respectively'em bedded in the pair of flexible wall portions. at the relatively fiat front end 2 of the substantially frustoconical hollow member 1. The leaf spring members 5 and 5' are indicated only partially in dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, inasmuch as they are embedded in the pair of wall portions at the front end 2 of the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2, and the ends of the leaf springs 5 and 5' are respectively located against a pair of plate members 6 and 6. These plate members 6 and 6' form manuallyengageable members capable of being engaged by the fingers of the operator in order to facilitate the opening and closing of the structure. tions 7 and '7' are respectively formed integral with opposed portions of the truncated body 1 and respectively extend in opposite directions therefrom, these webs 7 and 7"respectively fixed at their outer edges to the inner surfaces of the plates 6 and 6', being bonded thereto in any suitable way, so that in this way the plates 6 and 6' are joined with the remainder of the assembly. For example the flexible ribs 7 and 7' which are molded in one piece with the hollow body 1 and the flange 4 can be gluedto the manually-engageable plates 6 and 6'. Instead of being embedded in the plastic material, the leaf springs 5 and 5 can be placed against the exterior surfaces of the pair of wall portions at the front end 2 which respectively engage each other so as to form the slit 3, and in such a case the ends of the leaf springs 5 and 5' can be joined to each other either through notches formed inv the free edges of. the ribs 7 and 7' or the free ends of the springs 5 and 5 can be joined directly'to the A pair of rib or web poreach other, as indicated in FIG. 4, and at the same time a good closure is guaranteed. FIG. 3 shows the normal, rest position of the structure when the slit 3 is closed, while when the operator applies the thumb and index finger of one hand to the plates 6 and 6' they can easily be urged toward each other, as indicated by the arrows a and a in FIG. 4, thus acting in opposition to the springs 5 and 5' to displace. the pair of wall portions at the front end 2 of the hollow member 1 away from each other so that they will then define the opening illustrated in FIG. 4 through which the contents of the container can be discharged. The edge 9 at the large end of the frustoconical hollow member 1 can be joined by gluing, fusing, or the like, with the neck or any other suitable part of a container which may, if desired, be made of a flexible material so that it can be squeezed by the operator in order to urge contents out of the container through the open slit 3 when the operator acts on the structure in the manner indicated in FIG. 4.

Thus, it will be seen that the structure of the invention includes a pair of wall portions which have a closed position engaging each other and which of course form part of a container, these wall portions also having the open position indicated in FIG. 4 where they define between themselves a discharge opening for the contents of the container, and the pair of leaf springs 5 and 5 together with the pair of plates 6 and 6' form a manually operable means engaging these wall portions to resiliently urge them to the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 while the plates 6 and 6 form a pair of manually-engageable portions of this manually operable means capable of being manipulated bythe operator for the purpose of placing the manually operable means in the condition shown in FIG. 4 where the pair of Wall portions assume their open position.

It is also possible to apply the basic principle of the present invention in a greatly simplified form requiring only a pair of leaf springs to a part of a flexible container such as the corner of a substantially rectangular flexible container or the. like, pressing the wall portions at the corner of such container against each other. Such a construction is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 where only one of a pair of leaf springs 15 is illustrated, the pair of leaf springs 15 being connected to each other at their ends 16 and 16'. The flexible container 11 is formed simply from a pair of flexible walls. Thus, the container need be nothing more than a portion of a flexible tube which can be flattened and which is closed and sealed at its ends. Such a flexible container 11 has the corner portion 12 thereof, which may be any desired corner of the container, extending between the pair of leaf springs 15 with the connected ends 16 and 16 of the leaf springs engaging the edges of the container in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6. In order to avoid any tearing or piercing of the wall of the container 11 by the leaf springs, the wall portions of the container are provided in the region of the edge portions where the leaf springs will be located with areas 13 and 13 which are strengthened in any suitable way, as by having an additional layer of material located at the areas.13 and 13, for example, so that the connected ends 16 and 16' of the leaf springs 15 will not tear or cut through the material of the container 11. The. pair of leaf springs 15 when separated from the container will press against each other along their entire length, and the connected ends 16 and 16 are pressed toward each other to bulge the leaf springs away from each other so as to permit the corner 12 to be introduced between the pair of leaf springs 15, providing in this way the structure shown in FIG. 6 where the end portions of the leaf springs permanently grip the container 11 to be joined therewith. Of course, it is also possible, if desired, to glue or fuse one or the other of the wall portions of the container to one or the other of the leaf springs 15. Until the filled container is initially opened it will have the construction illustrated in FIG. 6. When it is desired to initially open the container the operator will simply remove part of the corner 12 as by cutting away the tip portion 14 along the line X-X, for example. Before being opened the container 11 is tightly closed by heat sealing or otherwise fusing together the edges of the pair of wall portions at the ends of the container. After removing the tip portion of the corner 12 the operator need only urge the ends 16 and 16' toward each other, in the manner indicated by the arrows b and b, thus causing the leaf springs 15 to bulge away from each other permitting the pair of wall portions to assume an open position forming the opening through which the contents of the container can discharge, much in the same Way as described above in connection with FIG. 4. Thus, it will be seen that with this embodiment also there are a pair of Wall portions engaging each other to have a closed position closing the container 11 and capable of being displaced from each other to an open position providing an opening through which the contents of the container can discharge, and the manually-operable means 15 engages these wall portions to urge them toward each other to their closed position, the ends 16 and 16 forming a pair of manually-engageable portions capable of being manipulated by the operator for placing the manually operable means 15 in a position where the wall portions can assume their open position, and of course as soon as the operator releases the manually-engageable portions 16 and 16' the manually-operable means 15 will automatically assume its closed position for pressing the wall portions against each other so as to close the container 11.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a structure of the invention, FIG. 7 showing only the closing structure of the invention which is assembled with the container structure to form the entire dispenser assembly of the invention. The structure of FIG. 7 is preferably formed from a single piece of plastic material to which is joined a leaf spring 27 made of steel, for example, and having a substantially U-shaped configuration with the leaf spring member 27 disposed laterally, as will be apparent from the description which follows. The structure shown in FIG. 7 includes a pair of jaw members 21 and 22 each having a lobe integral therewith and forming a manuallyengageable portion. Thus, it will be seen that the jaws 21 and 22 are respectively provided with integral lobes 23 and 24 capable of being engaged by the operator in the manner described below. The jaw members 21 and 22 are interconnected by a pair of angled bar portions 25 and 26 formed integrally with the jaw members, and these angled bar members 25 and 26 are respectively located at opposite side edge portions of the jaw members 21 and 22 interconnecting these jaw members and being flexible so as to hingedly interconnect the jaw members 21 and 22. The entire assembly 21-26 is capable of being molded as a single entity. The manner in which this structure of FIG. 7 is united with a container and used is illustrated in FIGS. 8-10.

The interconnection between the jaws 21 and 22 is such that the portions thereof which engage the pair of wall portions of the flexible container are parallel with respect to each other when the pair of wall portions of the container extend between the jaw members 21 and 22 with the latter pressing against these wall portions. Thus, as may be seen from FIG. 8 the flexible container 29 has an elongated portion 28 in the form of a flattened tube constituting a pair of wall portions which are pressed against each other by the jaw members 21 and 22 so V 5 as to be maintained in their closed position closing the flexible container 29. The leaf spring 27 is disposed in a position extending laterally with respect to the jaws and the elongated container 29, as is particularly apparent from FIGS. 8 and 9, so that in this way the legs of the leaf spring 27 can urge the jaw members toward each other while maintaining the manually engageable portions 23 and 24 apart from each other and providing between the jaw members and the legs of the leaf spring a free space through which the container 29 can freely extend with the outlet portion 28 of the container passing between the jaw members 21 and 22. As may be seen particularly from FIG. 8 the angled connecting bar portions 25 and 26 are arranged in such a way that the angle defined thereby opens toward the rear, and thus when the operator presses the manually-engageable portions 23 and 24 toward each other, as indicated in FIG. 10, the angled members 25 and 26 will yield at the apexes thereof to enable the jaw members 21 and 22 to be moved apart from each other. The cross section of the angled connecting bar members 25 and 26 is at a minimum at the apexes 30 and 3th of these bar members so that they will yield at these apex portions. The plastic material used for this structure is sufiiciently flexible so that the angled members 25 and 26 will bend at the regions 39 and 36' in response to displacement of the lobes 23 and 24 toward each other in the direction of the arrows c and c, as indicated in FIG. 10. Thus, the members 25 and as not only interconnect the jaws to each other but also to provide a hinged connection therebetween. The plastic material used for the structure of FIG. 7 as well as for any of the parts of the other embodiments of the invention, except the leaf springs or wire spring, can be any well known flexible plastic material such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, butadiene, etc.

Thus, it will be seen that the structure shown in FIG. 7 forms a manually operable means which is assembled with the container 29 so as to act on the pair of wall portions thereof at the outlet end 28 of the container 29. This outlet end 28 is tapered and elongated, as is apparent from FIGS. 8 and 9, so that it will pass freely through the spring 27 and the jaw members. The lobes 23 and 24, which form the nianually-engageable portions of the manually operable means of FIG. 7 are glued or fused in any suitable way to the exterior surface of the container 29, so that in this way the rear portions of the jaws 21 and 22 are permanently fixed with the container 29, and FIG. 10 shows the areas y where the manually operable means of FIG. 7 is joined in this way with the container 29. In addition, the elongated discharge portion 28 of the container 2% is fixed with one of the jaws, and FIG. 10 illustrates how the lower wall portion is fused, glued, or otherwise joined with the surface y of the jaw 22.

The spring 27 can be embedded at its enlongated leg portions in the plastic material of the jaw members 21 and 22, or it can simply be placed with these legs of the spring pressing against the jaws 21 and 22, in which case the spring 27 can be provided with small pointed portions which penetrate into the plastic material to a small extent. Thus, the spring 27 can either be placed in a mold in which the jaws 21 and 22 are molded so that the legs of the spring will be embedded in the plastic material, or the spring 27 may be assembled with the jaws after the plastic material has been molded, in which case it is desirable to provide the legs of the spring with small pointed portions capable of engaging the plastic material to reliably hold the spring 27 assembled therewith.

Initially the filled container 29 is sealed at its tip 28 so as to remain tightly closed, and when it is desired to remove part of the contents of the container this tip 28 is simply cut off or otherwise removed, and it will be noted that the container will nevertheless remain closed because of the pressure applied by the jaws 21 and 22. It is only when the operator moves the lobes 23 and 24 toward each other, as indicated in FIG. 10, that material 7 will issue through the discnargc opening after the tip 23' has been removed, and it is thus clear that the manually operable means of this embodiment can be placed by the operator in a position where the pair of wall portions of the container 2 will assume their open position, as indicated in FIG. 10. The lobes 23 and 24 may be engaged by the thumb and index linger of one hand to be urged toward each other, and as soon as the operator releases these lobes the spring 27 together with the inherent resiliency of the spningy connecting members 25 and 26 will act to return the jaws to their closed position pressing the opposed wall portions at the discharge 28 of the container against each other to close the container. 7

In some cases it may be undesirable to arrange the spring 27 so that it extends laterally in the manner in FIGS. 7-10, and in order to provide a structure where the leaf spring does not extend laterally it is possible to use a larger leaf spring which is also of a substantially U-shaped configuration but which has between its legs an intermediate portion great enough to be provided with an elongated opening through which the discharge portion of the container can freely extend. Such a construction is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. Thus, FIG. 11 shows the substantially U-shaped leaf spring 31 having a relatively large intermediate portion 3?. located between its legs and formed with the elongated opening 33 which may be of an oval or oblong configuration. The free ends of the legs of the U-shaped leaf spring are respectively provided with the relatively small pointed portions 34 and 34', similar to those provided with the spring 27 as referred to above, and these pointed portions extend freely into relatively small recesses formed at the inner surfaces of the pair of jaws. Such a spring may be disposed between the pair of jaws in the manner indicated in FIG. 12 with the elongated discharge portion 28 extending freely through the opening 33 formed in the intermediate portion 32 or the leaf spring.

It will be noted from FIG. 12 that the manually-operable means is constructed somewhat ditferently from the manually-operable means of FIG. 7. Thus, it will be seen that while the lower jaw 35 is provided with an upwardly directed surface of a relatively large area to which the lower wall portion of the outlet 23 of the container can be joined as described in connection with FIGS. 8 and 10, the upper jaw 36 is provided at its tip with a projection 37 of much smaller area, and while this projection 37 extends completely across the upper wall portion at the outlet 28 of the container nevertheless since it has a much smaller area of contact with the container the force of the spring is distributed over this smaller area providing a greater pressure for the unit of area and thus guaranteeing a ticght closure when the manually operable means 35, 36 of Fl". 12 is not engaged by the operator. The ja .'s of the embodiment of FIG. 12 are also interconnected by angled bar members formed integrally therewith, and only one or" these angled bar members 26 is shown in FIG. 12, the other member being identical therewith and located at the other side of the jaw members 35 and 36, and of course the minimum cross-sectional area portion 3% is shown in FIG. 12, this being the portion where the connecting parts yield when the operator presses the manually-engageable rear portions of the jaws 35 and 36 toward each other, as described above in connection with FIG. 10. With this embodiment the connecting members which extend between the jaws and are formed integrally therewith have extensions 38 and 39 located along the side edges of the jaws and forming flanges of substantially trapezoidal configuration which serve to act as reinforcing ribs for rent-arcing thestructure. These reinforcing ribs may have a substantially rectangular configuration rather than a trapezoidal configuration. It is apparent that the embodiment of FIG. 12 can be operated precisely in the same way as the embodiment of FIG. 10 to produce the same results although in this case the leaf spring does not extend laterally.

instead of manufacturing a manually operable means such as that shown in FIG. 7 from a single piece of plastic material, which. may be molded in one piece, for example, as pointed out above, and to which a leaf spring is added, it is of course also possible to provide a structure where each of the jaws forms a single element with the pair of jaws respectively having manually-cngageable portions similar to the lobes 23 and 2 and such a pair of jaws can be pivotally connected to each other for example by one jaw having a projection extending into an opening of the other jaw, or any other suitable structure for this purpose may be provided. Moreover, the structure, as that shown in FIG. 7, may be made entirely of metal and may be provided with any suitable mechanical means for fixing it to a container so that it will be capable of producing results as set forth above.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 13-16, there is shown a manually operable means, capable of accomplishing results similar to the structure of FIG. 7, but made of two jaw members which are connectcd to each other as set forth in the description which follows and as is shown in FIGS. l3l5. Thus, there is shown in FIG. 13 a pair 1 of jaws 71 which are identical and each of which has the configuration of a shell, which is to say it has a substantially dished configuration with the inner concave surface of each shell directed toward the other shell or jaw 71. A spring 2, shown in detail in FIG. 16, is operatively connected with the jaws 71 and the curvature of the spring 72 is such that it has a pair of distinct loops or turns "73 and 73 each of which forms an extension of an intermediate curved portion 76 of the spring 72, and in this way the spring leaves in the interior space between the jaws a free unobstructed passage through which the container can extend without obstruction so that the pair of wall portions of the container can be clamped between the jaws. Each of the shells 71 has at its opposite sides a pair of semicircular notches, and when the shells are placed next to each. other in the manner indicated in "lGS. 13 and 14 the pair of semi-circular notches at each side cooperate to form a circular opening 77, and the pair of loops 73 and 73' are respectively received in these openings 77 with the intermediate portion 76 of the spring extending along and engaging the inner surface of the upper shell 71, as Viewed in FIG. 13. It will be noted particularly from FIG. 14 that at these semi-circular notches which form the openings 77, the shells are provided with shoulders 78, and the loops 73 and 73 rest against these shoulders. Moreover, the spring includes elongated free portions 74 and 74' extending beyond the loops, and it will be seen particularly from FIG. 13 that the elongated portion 74 extends along the exterior of the lower jaw in a groove 75 thereof while the elongated portion '74 extends across the exterior surface of the upper jaw of FIG. 13 also in a groove 75 of this upper jaw. These elongated free end portions of the spring 72 are located adjacent the left free ends of the jaws, as viewed in FIG. 13, extending across these jaws and urging their left ends against each other so that the loops 73 and 73 together with the portions 74 and 74- of the spring serve not only to interconnect the jaws with each other but also to urge the jaws to their position pressing against the wall portions of the container and in addition providing a pivot axisabout which the jaws can turn relative to each other.

The jaws 71 are respectively provided with manuallyengageable portions 79 at their rear end portions, respectively, and the operator can engage these portions, to move them in the directions of the arrows g and g, shown in FIG. 13, so as to turn the jaws in oppostion to the spring 72 in order to space the jaws from each other so as to permit the wall portions of the container to assume their open position. In order to limit the movement of the portions 79 away from each other each of the jaws 71 is provided with a pair of ears 81 and 82, and these cars overlap each other. The car 81 is formed with an arcuate slot 33 extending along a circle whose center is in the turning axis of the jaws while the ear 82 of each jaw is formed. with a pin 84 which can be integral with or fixed to the ear 82 in any suitable way and which is received in the slot 83, so that in this way the jaws can turn but the movement of the portions 79 away from each other is limited by engagement of the pins 34 with the ends of the slots 83, in the manner indicated most clearly in FIG. 13.

It is clear that a container such as the container 29 shown in FIGS. 8-10 can have its front portion extending through the space between the jaws 71, with the intermediate portion 76 of the spring extending around the container, and or" course the elongated discharged portion 28 of the container will extend between the jaws to be pinched thereby so that the manually operable means of FIG. 13 will also act to press the pair of wall portions of the container against each other for closing the con tainer, and one or the other of the inner surfaces of the jaws 71 may be glued or otherwise fixed, at least in part, with the exterior surface of the container 29, or the like, so that in this way the structure of FIGS. 13-16 will be assembled with the container and will function to produce the results as discussed above in connection with FIGS. 7-10.

FIGS. 17-20 illustrate the manner in which a manual- 1y operable means, such as that shown in PEG. 7, for example, is joined with a flexible container of trapezoidal configuration, for example, such a container being used, for example, for any pasty product such as soft soap, polishing wax, or the like.

Thus, such a container 41, made of any suitable plastic material in the form of a fiexible tube which may be cut into a configuration as shown in FIG. 17 and sealed at its ends after it is filled, is placed with its corner portion 43 extending through the manually operable means 42 which may have the structure shown in FiG. 7, although, if desired, it may also have the structure shown in FIG. 12 or in FIG. 13. After the corner 43 has been placed in a position extending between the jaws with the tip 43' extending beyond the jaws in the manner shown in FIG. 18, the lobes, such as the lobes 23 and 24 are glued, fused, or otherwise joined with the exteriorsurface of the container, and of course it will be recalled that FIG. shows the areas y where such joining of the lobes to the container is provided. Before the container is used for the first time the operator will remove the tip 43' (FIG. 19) in any suitable way such as by cutting it oil with a scissors. However, the container will still be maintained closed because of the action of the jaws on the opposed wall portions which are pressed against each other to be maintained in their closed position, as described above. The container 41 is then placed in the palm of the hand, and the thumb and index finger of the same hand are applied to the lobes so as to urge them toward each other, as indicated by the arrows d and d in FIG. 20, and simultaneously with the urging of the lobes toward each other by the operator, so as to displace the jaws away from each other, the operator will press with the rest of his fingers against the container 41 so as to squeeze the latter, in the manner indicated by the arrows e and e in FIG. 20, and thus with one hand it is possible to cause the contents of the container to issue. Of course, when the desired amount of material has been discharged in this way from the container the operator will simply release the container and the lobes of the jaws, and the jaws will then immediately resume their position pressing the Wall portions of the container aginst each other so as to close the container.

Another manner in which the invention may be used is illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22 where there is shown a container 45, also in the form of a flexible bag, sack, or the like, and adapted to contain a liquid, for example,

such as a household cleanser. For this purpose the elongated container 45 is provided at its lower end portion with a substantially triangular part 46 the lowermost apex of which forms the part of the container which is placed through the space between the jaws of the manually operable means 47, which of course can have the structure shown in FIG. 7, or, if desired the structure of FIGS. 12 or 13. This manually operable means 47 is joined to the container as by having the lobes of the jaws glued thereto, fused thereto, or therwise joined thereto, as set forth above, and initially the tip at the lowermost part of the container 45 will extend beyond the jaws in much the same way that the tip 43' of FIG. 18 extends beyond the jaws. The upper end of the container 45 is provided with a looped portion 48 of substantially semicircular configuration joined integrally or otherwise joined with the remainder of the container and forming not only a handle by which the container may be carried but also a means for hanging the container on a suitable support such as a hook mounted on a wall and located over a sink, for example. When it is desired to use the container the operator will simply remove the bottom tip thereof, and of course the manually operable means 47 will still maintain the container closed. However, when the tip has been removed the operator can at any time press the lobes toward each other so as to displace the jaws from each other permitting the Wall portions of the container to assume their open position, and it will be noted that with such an arrangement the discharge opening is directed downwardly and located at the lowermost part of the container. Thus, with such an arrangement a simple pressure on the jaws by the operator will permit the operator to release at will as much of the liquid contents of the container as possible, and when the desired amount of liquid has discharged from the container the operator will simply release the manually operable means 47 which will immediately return automatically t its position closing the container. An arrangement of the type shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 can be used for household cleaning materials, such as liquid detergents or the like, as well as for liquid soap, etc.

Is is apparent that the structure of the invention can be applied to any type of more or less flexible container made, for example, of a plastic material, and containing any liquid product and having any distinctive configuration. Examples of such widely diiterent container configurations are shown in FIGS. 23 and 24. The containers shown in FIGS. 23 land 24 are made of flexible plastic material and are each provided with a manually operable means 47 having the construction of any of FIGS. 7, 12, or 13, for example. As is apparent from FIG. 23, the pointed end portion 51 of the illustrated container is passed between the jaws, extending beyond the latter so as to provide a tip which may be removed when it is desired to use the contents of the container, and in the case of FIG. 24 the tip 52 of the container extends beyond the jaws so as to be capable of being removed when it is desired to use the contents of the container, and in each case the devices 47 are fixed to the container as by having the lobes of the jaws joined thereto by fusing, gluing, or the like, as described above. The containers such as those shown in FIGS. 23 and 24 are preferably completely closed by heat sealing or the like after they are filled, so as to guarantee in this way that the contents will not escape from the container until the tips thereof are removed and the manually operable means 47 actuated by the operator in the manner described above.

Instead of assembling the manually operable means with the container after the latter has been filled and sealed, it is also possible to join the manually operable means with the container before the container is filled and sealed, and in such a case it is possible to use the structure of the invention to facilitate the filling of the container. Such an arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 25-28 where the elongated flexible container 61 has a trapezoidal configuration, as described above in connection with the container 41, and where the manually operable means 62 may have any of the structures described above and shown, for example, in FIGS. 7, 12 or 13. However, the container 61 differs from any of the abovedescribed containers in that the manually operable means 62 is joined with the container 61 before the opening 63 thereof is closed. Thus, before filling the container 61 the portion thereof which terminates in the opening 63 is placed between the jaws of the manually operable means 62 with the opening 63 located beyond the jaws, as shown in FIG. 26, and then of course the lobes of the jaws may be joined to the container in the manner described above. Thus, the dimensions of the parts are such that the opening 63 will be situated beyond the jaws after the parts are assembled, as illustrated in FIG. 26. Thus, the container 61 can be cut from an elongated flexible tubular plastic sheath, for example, and the right end of the container can be sealed shut, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, while the left end is also sealed, but in such a way as to leave the opening 63, and the parts are then assembled as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26.

In order to fill the container, the filling tube 65 of the filling machine is introduced through the opening 63 into the interior of the container 61, and in order to do this the operator will of course displace the jaws of the manually operable means d2 away from each other so that the tube 65 can pass between these jaws in the interior of the container, and when the tube 65 has been introduced through the desired distance into the interior of the container the operator will release the manually operable means 62 which will now press the wall portions of the container against the tube so as to resiliently hold the entire container on the filling tube gripping the latter, as indicated in FIG. 28. In this way the structure of the invention will serve to mount the container on the filling tube and hold the container thereon while the container is filled, and after the container has been filled to the desired extent the operator will openthe jaws so as to release the tube 65 and will then remove the container therefrom. The operator will then simply release the manually operable means 62 which will automatically close the container in the manner described above, although, if desired, and if the nature of the product permits it, a further closure can be provided by heat sealing the container at the opening 63 so that the container will' be closed also in this way and when the ultimate consumer wishes to use the container he will remove the outermost portion of the container at the opening 63 so as to again open the container and it will then be capable of being used in the manner described above.

Of course, the invention may take many different forms and may be applied to many different types of containers. These containers can have any type of configuration. and can contain any type of pasty or liquid products, whether these products are cleansers or products for household maintenance, liquid or soft soaps, cosmetic products, or even food products such as concentrated milk, honey, oil, fruit juices, etc.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of dispensers difiering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in manually operable dispensers, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications'and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 7

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint; of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a dispenser, in combination, a pair of wall portions forming part of a container and defining between themselves a passage having a front end, said wall portions having a closed position engaging each other for closing the container, said wall portions also having an open position displaced from each other to open said passage so that material may discharge from the interior of the container; and manually-operable means engaging said wall portions at the exterior thereof and rearwardly of said front end and resiliently pressing them against each other to hold said wall portions in said closed position thereof, said manually-operable means having a pair of manually-engageable portions to be engaged and moved toward each other by the operator for placing said manually-operable means in a non-pressing position where said wall portions are displaced from each other and said passage is open.

2. In a dispenser, in combination, a pair of wall'portions forming part of a container and defining between themselves a passage having a front end, said wall portions having a closed position engaging each other for closing the container, said wall portions also having an open position displaced from each other to open said passage so that material may discharge from the interior of the container; and manually-operable means engaging said wall portions at the exterior thereof and rearwardly of said front end and resiliently pressing them against each other to hold said wall portions in said closed position thereof, said manually-operable means having a pair of manually-engageable portions to be engaged and moved toward each other by the operator for placing said manpally-operable means in a non-pressing position where said wall portions are displaced from each other and said passage is open, said manually-operable means automatically assuming a position pressing said wall portions against each other to close the container when said manuallyengageable portions thereof are released by the operator.

3. In a dispenser, in combination, a pair of wall portions forming part of a container and defining between themselves a passage having a front end, said wall portions engaging each other for closing the container, said wall portions when displaced from each other forming an opening through which material may discharge from the interior of the container; and manually operable means engaging said wall portions at the exterior thereof and rearwardly of said front end for urging them against each other to close the container, said manually-operable means including a pair of elongated, substantially coextensive leaf springs respectively extending along and engaging said wall portions and urging them against each other rearwardly of said front end, said leaf springs being joined to each other at their ends andsaid ends of said leaf springs forming manually-engageable portions of said manually-operable means which when moved toward each other defiect said leaf springs apart from each other to permit the wall portions to assume said open position thereof.

4. In a dispenser, in combination, a hollow flexible member of substantially frustoconical configuration forming a passage having a large end and an opposite small end and adapted to be joined at said large end thereof to a container with said hollow member forming part of the container, the small end of said member including a pair of flexible wall portions which engage each other to close the container and which can assume a position displaced from each other to form an opening through which material may discharge from the container; and manually-operable means resiliently engaging said wall portions rearwardly of said small end of said member for urging them into engagement with each other for closing said passage and thereby'closing the container, said manually-operable means having a pair of manually-engageable portions which when moved toward each other displace said wall portions away from each other to open said passage rearwardly of said small end and form an opening through which material may discharge from the interior of the container.

5. In a dispenser, in combination, a hollow flexible member of frustoconical configuration forming a passage having a large end and an opposite small end and adapted to be joined at said large end thereof to a container where said member forms a part of said container, said member having at said small end thereof a pair of wall portions which have a closed position engaging each other for blocking said passage and closing the container and which is displaceable with respect to each other to a position spaced from each other unblocking said passage and forming at said small end an opening through which material may discharge from the interior of the container; a pair of elongated leaf springs respectively engaging said wall portions rearwardly of said small end and urging them toward each other for yieldably maintaining said wall portions in said closed position engaging each other; and a pair of plate members connected to said hollow member at the exterior thereof and located substantially at the ends of said leaf springs so that when said plates are moved toward each other said leaf springs will be bulged away from each other and said wall portions can assume said position displaced from each other unblocking said passage and forming said opening so that the container will be opened, said plates when released freeing said leaf springs which automatically again place said wall portions in said closed position thereof engaging each other to close the container.

6. In a dispenser, in combination, a pair of wall porv tions forming part of a container and having a closed position engaging each other rearwardly of said front end for closing. the container, said wall portions having an open position displaced from each other to define an opening through which material may discharge from the .interior of the container, and said wall portions each having areas rearwardly of said front end which are. of relatively great strength to resist tearing; and manuallyoperable. means engaging the exterior of said wall portions at said areas thereof and resiliently urging said wall portions against each other to maintain them in their closed positions, said manually operable means having a pairof manually-engageable portions movable by the operator for placingsaid manually-operable means in a position where said wall portions assume their open position.

7. In a dispenser, in combination, a pair of wall portions forming part of a container and defining between themselves a passage having a front end, said wall portions having a closed position engaging, each other for closing the container, said wall portionshaving an open position displaced from each other and defining an opening through which material may be discharged from the interior of the container; and manually operable means at least partly surrounding said wall portions coaxial with said passage, said manually operable means engaging said wall portions and resiliently urging them toward each other for maintaining said wall portions-in said closed position thereof, said manually operable means including a pair of jaws respectively engaging said wall portions rearwardly of said front end, and springy portions connected to said jaws and urging them toward each other for resiliently maintaining said jaws in a position pressing said wall portions against each other to maintain the latter in their closed position, said jaws respectively having mannally-engageable portions to be moved by the operator toward each other in opposition to saidtspringy portions for displacing said jaws away from each other so that the wall portions can then assume their open position, said manually-engageable portions when released by the operator releasing said jaws to said springy portions which automatically move said jaws toward each other to again resiliently hold said wall portions against each other in their closed position.

8. In a dispenser, in combination, a pair of wall portions forming part of a container and defining between themselves a passage having a front end, said wall portions having a closedposition engaging each other for closing the container, said wall portions having an open position displaced from each other to define an opening through which material may discharge from the interior of the container; and manually operable means atleast partly surrounding said wall portions coaxial with said passage, said manually operable means resiliently engaging said wall portions and urging them against each other to resiliently maintain them in their closed position, said manually-operable means including a pair of jaw members respectively engaging said wall portions rearwardly of said front end and a pair of angular bar members extending between and interconnecting said jaw members at their opposite side portions, forming one piece therewith, and providing a hinge connection between said jaw members whereby the latter can be turned away from and toward each other by deflection of said connecting members, and a substantially U-shaped leaf spring member extending at one end around edges of said Wall portions and having a pair of legs located between and respectively engaging said jaw members for urging them toward each other to a position pressing against said wall portions to maintain the latter in their closed position, said wall portions passing freely between the legs of said U-shaped member as well as between said jaw members, and the latter respectively having manually-engageable portions movable toward each other for displacing said jaw members away from each other whereby the wall portions will assume their open position, and said leaf spring member urging said jaw members back to their position pressing against said wall portions to maintain the latter in their closed position upon release of said manually-engageable portions by the operator.

9. In a dispenser, in combination, a pair of wall portions forming part of the container and defining between themselves a passage having a front end, said wall portions having a closed position engaging each other for closing the-container, said wall portions having an open position displaced from each other and defining an opening through which material may discharge from the interior of the container; and manually-operable means at least partly surrounding said wall portions coaxial with said passage, said manually operable means engaging said wall portions and urging them against each other to releasably maintain the container closed, said manuallyoperable means including apair of jaw members respec tively engaging said wall portions rearwardly of said front end and holding them in their closed position where they engage eachother and a pair of angled connecting members extending between and interconnecting said jaw members atside portions thereof, forming a hinge connection therebetween, and capable of being deformed during movement of said jaw members toward and away from each other, saidjaw membersrespectively having manually-engageable portions capable of being engaged by the operator for moving saidjaw members away from each other so that said wall portions will then assume their open positions, and a substantially U-shaped leaf spring located between andengaging said jaw members for urging them toward each other to the position pressing against said wail portions for maintainingthe latter in their'closed position. i

10. In-a dispenser, in combination, a pair of wall portions forming part of a container and defining between themselves a passage having a front end, said wall portions having a closed position engaging each other for closing the container, said wall portions having an open position displaced fromeachother anddefining an opening through which material may discharge from the in? terior of the container; and manually-operable means at least partly surrounding said wall portions coaxial with said passage, said manually operable means engaging said wall portions and urging them against each other to releasably maintain the container closed, said manuallyoperable means including a pair of jaw members respec tively engaging said wall portions rearwardly of said front end and holding them in their closed position where they engage each other and a pair of angled connecting members extending between and interconnecting said jaw members at side portions thereof, forming a hinge connection therebetween, and capable of being deformed during movement of said jaw members toward and away from each other, said jawimembers respectively having manually-engageable portions capable of being engaged by the operator for moving said jaw members away from each other so that said wall portions will then assume their open positions, and a substantially U-shaped leaf spring located between and engaging said jaw members for urging them toward each other to the position pressing against said wall portions for maintaining the latter in their closed position, said leaf spring member having a pair of opposed legs respectively engaging said jaw members and between said pair of opposed legs an intermediate portion formed with an opening through which said pair of wall portions respectively pass before extending between said jaw members at the region where said wall portions are engaged thereby.

11. In a dispenser, in combination, a pair of wall portions forming part of a container. and defining between themselves a passage having a front end, said wall portions having a closed position engaging each other to close the container and an open position displaced from each other and defining an opening through which material may discharge from the interior; and manually-operable means at least partly surrounding said wall portions coaxial with said passage, said manually operable means engaging said wall portions and resiliently urging them toward each other to maintain said wall portions releasably and yieldably in said closed position thereof, said 1 manually-operable means including a pair of jaw members between which said pair of wall portions extend and an elongated wire spring located in part between said jaw members and engaging said jaw members for urging them toward each other pressing against said wall portions rearwardly of said front end for yieldably maintaining the latter in said closed position, said jaw members respectively having manually-engageable portions movable by the operator toward each other in opposition to said spring for displacing said jaw members away from each other whereby said wall portions can then assume said open position thereof. 7

12. In a dispenser, in combination, a pair of wall portions forming part of a container and defining between themselves a passage having a front end, said wall portions having a closed csition en a in each other to close the container and an open position displaced from each other and defining an opening through which material may discharge from the interior; and manually-operable means at least partly surrounding said wall portions coaxial with said passage, said manually operable means engaging said wall portions and resiliently urging them toward each other to maintain said wall portions releasably and yieldably in said closed position thereof, said manually-operable means including a pair of jaw members between which said pair of wall'portions extend and an elongated wire spring located in part between said jaw members and engaging said jaw members for urging them toward each other pressing against said wall portions rearwardlyof said front end for yieldably maintaining the latter in said closed position, said jaw members respectively having manually-engageable portions movable by the operator toward each other in opposition to said spring for displacing said jaw members away from each other whereby said wall portions can then as-' sume said open, position thereof, said wire spring having an intermediate portion engaging one of said jaw members at an inner surface thereof and defining an aperture through which said wall portions extend, a pair of loops respectively located at the ends of said intermediate portion and forming spring hinges for said jaw members, and a pair of elongated free end portions respectively extending from said loops along the exterior surfaces of said jaw members, respectively, urging the latter toward each other and into engagement with said wall portions.

13. In a dispenser, in combination, a pair of wall portions forming part of a container and defining between themselves a passage having a front end, said wall portions having a closed position engaging each other to close the container and an open position displaced from each other and defining through which material may discharge from the interior; and manually-operable means at least partly surrounding said wall portions coaxial with said passage, said manually operable means engaging said wall portions and resiliently urging them toward each other to maintain said wall portions releasably and yieldably in said closed position thereof, said manually-operable means including a pair of jaw members between which said pair of wall portions extend and an elongated wire spring located in part between said jaw members and engaging said jaw members for urging them toward each other pressing against said wall portions rearwardly of said front end for yieldably maintaining the latter in said closed position, said jaw members respectively having manually-engageable portions movable by the operator toward each other in opposition to said spring for displacing said jaw members away from each other whereby said lclosing the container, said wall portions having also an open position displaced from each other and defining an opening through which material may discharge from the interior of the container; andrnanually-operable means at least partly surrounding said wall portions coaxial with said passage, said manually operable means engaging said wall portions and yieldably urging them against each other to releasably maintain them in their closed position, said manually-operable means including a pair of hingedly-interconnectcd jaw members between which Said wall portions respectively pass and a spring engaging said jaw members and urging them toward each other to a position pressing against said wall portions for pressing the latter toward each other to yieldably maintain the wall portionsin their closed position, said jaw members respectively having manually-engageable portions capable of being displaced by the operator toward each other to place said jaw members in a non-pressing position where said wall portions can assume said open position thereof, and at least one of said jaw members being joined at least in part to one of said wall portions.

15. In a dispenser, in combination, an elongated flexible container carrying at one end a means for suspending said container from a suitable support, said container having at an opposite end a pair of wall portions having a closed position engaging each other to close the container and an open position displaced from each other and defining between themselves an opening through which material may discharge from the interior of the container; and manually-operable means engaging said wall portions for resiliently urging them against each other to resiliently maintain them in their closed position, said manually-operable means havingra pair of manually-engageable portions capable of being-moved by the operator to place said manually-operable means in a position where said 17 Wall portions assume their open position and said manually-operable means automatically assuming a position pressing said wall portions against each other when said manually-engageable portions are released by the operator.

16. In a dispenser, in combination, closure means including a pair of closure portions having respective pressure faces juxtaposed with one another and adapted to define a passage therebetween, said closure portions being resiliently connected with one another for enabling movement thereof between a normally closed position in which said pressure surfaces engage one another over at least part of their respective area whereby said passage is closed, and an open position in which said pressure surfaces are spaced from one another and said passage is open; manually engageable actuating portions on said closure portions for deflecting said closure portions from said closed position to said open position thereof; and a dispenser having an outlet portion connected at least to said closure portions and extending intermediate said pressure surfaces so that, when said closure portions are deflected to said open position, material contained in said dispenser may be discharged therefrom through said outlet portion while, when said pressure surfaces engage one another, said outlet portion is compressed therebetween and material in said dispenser is prevented from dischargmg.

17. In a dispenser, in combination, closure means including a pair of oppositely disposed closure portions having respective front ends and rear ends; connecting means resiliently connecting said closure portions and re siliently biasing the same to a closed position in which said front ends engage one another while said rear ends are spaced from each other, and an open position in which said front ends are spaced apart and said rear ends ap proach one another; manually engageable actuating portions at said rear ends for moving said closure portions from said closed position to said open position; and a completely closed container having an outlet portion disposed intermediate said pressure surfaces, said outlet portion extending forwardly of said front ends so that when said outlet portion is opened forwardly of said front ends and said closure portions are deflected to said open position, material contained in said dispenser may be discharged therefrom through said outlet portion while,

When said pressure surfaces engage one another, said outlet. portion is compressed therebetween and material in said dispenser is prevented from discharging.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A DISPENSER, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF WALL PORTIONS FORMING PART OF A CONTAINER AND DEFINING BETWEEN THEMSELVES A PASSAGE HAVING A FRONT END, SAID WALL PORTIONS HAVING A CLOSED POSITION ENGAGING EACH OTHER FOR CLOSING THE CONTAINER, SAID WALL PORTIONS ALSO HAVING AN OPEN POSITION DISPLACED FROM EACH OTHER TO OPEN SAID PASSAGE SO THAT MATERIAL MAY DISCHARGE FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CONTAINER; AND MANUALLY-OPERABLE MEANS ENGAGING SAID WALL PORTIONS AT THE EXTERIOR THEREOF AND REARWARDLY OF SAID FRONT END AND RESILIENTLY PRESSING THEM AGAINST EACH OTHEFR TO HOLD SAID WALL PORTIONS IN SAID CLOSED POSITION THEREOF, SAID MANUALLY-OPERABLE PORTIONS TO BE ENGAGED A PAIR OF MANUALLY-ENGAGEABLE PORTIONS TO BE ENGAGED AND MOVED TOWARD EACH OTHER BY THE OPERATOR FOR PLACING SAID MANUALL-OPERABLE MEANS IN A NON-PRESSING POSITION WHERE SAID WALL PORTIONS ARE DISPLACED FROM EACH OTHER AND SAID PASSAGE IS OPEN. 